Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Meghalaya observed the 108th Garo Labour Corps Day on July 16. The Tura Municipal Board organized events to honor the men who volunteered for World War I logistics in France. These soldiers returned home to Tura on July 16, 1918. It was a proud day. Dignitaries laid wreaths at a temporary cenotaph in the Ringrey Urban Marketing Hub. Police provided a formal salute. The crowd observed two minutes of silence.
Events moved to the District Auditorium. Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma served as chief guest. Housing Minister Marcuise N. Marak also attended. Officials handed out mementoes to 17 families of the original recruits. Fr. Januarius S. Sangma led prayers and shared stories from his grandfather, Rashal Ch. Momin.
Thomas A. Sangma wants this history in school books. He pledged ₹2 lakh for research. The goal is to keep the heritage alive. Only 54 names currently sit on the cenotaph, but 456 men actually reached France out of 500 selected. The Garo Culture and Heritage Preservation Committee is hunting for the rest. They want every name on the new Babupara war memorial.
Construction sits at 90 percent capacity. Unrest caused recent delays. Minister Marcuise N. Marak is pushing for state funds to finish the work. "I have already written to the Chief Minister, and he has agreed to sanction some funds," the minister said. The project includes a museum for research and operations. Students finished the day with cultural shows. It was a celebration of sacrifice.
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